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Diva (Beyoncé song)

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"Diva"
Song
A-side"Halo"

"Diva" is a song by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. Bangladesh, Sean Garrett and Knowles wrote and produced it for her third studio album, I Am… Sasha Fierce. It was released as the album's third single in the United States.

Background and composition

There are many similarities between Knowles' "Diva" and the song "A Milli" by Lil Wayne. This is due to the fact that both are produced by Bangladesh. In an interview with MySpace, Knowles was asked if she agrees that "Diva" is a woman's equivalent to "A Milli". Knowles replied "It is, in a way....it wasn't consciously."[1]

"Diva" is a R&B song set in common time composed in a moderate hip-hop groove tempo,[2] in the key of E major.[2]

Critical reception

Leah Greenblat of Entertainment Weekly magazine said, "'Diva', with its metallic kick drum and sly vocal stutters, carries itself like the feminine companion to Lil Wayne's hypnotic summer hit 'A Milli'".[3] Andy Kellman Allmusic noted the track as a standout from the album, and said "'Diva', a variation on Lil Wayne's "A Milli", is the only track that could go toe to toe with the likes of... "Freakum Dress" or "Ring the Alarm" at least in terms of audacity.".[4] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian, reviewed the song negatively, stating, "The sonic trickery on the most experimental track, Diva, isn't interesting enough to distract you from the absence of a tune."[5]

Chart performance

Initially, the song charted on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart at number five. On the chart week of January 3 2009, the song débuted on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 96,[6] and has peaked at number 19 on March 7 2009,[7] becoming Knowles' twelfth top twenty single on the Hot 100 as a solo artist, and her sixteenth overall (not counting Destiny's Child, but including collaborations with other artists). The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play on March 28 2009, giving Knowles her ninth number one on the chart.[8][7] It was also very successful on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs where it peaked at number 3 for 5 consecutive weeks in February and March.[9][10][11][12][13]

Even though the song was only released in the U.S., it still managed to chart in other other countries; in Australia, the song débuted at number 47 on March 15, 2009, becoming the fourth single from the I Am… Sasha Fierce to hit the ARIA Singles Chart.[14] and peaked at number 40 on April 12, 2009.[15] In New Zealand, "Diva" débuted at number 32 on March 30 2009,[16] and peaked at number 26 for two non-consecutive weeks.[17][18]

"Diva" garnered some attention in the United Kingdom, appearing within the top ten of new and upcoming releases of British music video channels. It rose from number 173 to number 72 on the UK Singles Chart on May 17, 2009 on downloads alone.[19] "Diva" was never a single in the UK with "Sweet Dreams" being called the next UK single, following "Halo", however, it peaked at number 72.[20]

Music video

File:Beyonce-diva-video-.jpg
Knowles with her "Sasha Fierce" glasses while the video was filmed.

The music video for "Diva" was shot in late November and was directed by Melina Matsoukas, who worked with Knowles for several music videos. The music video premiered on iTunes on December 23, simultaneously with the "Halo" video.[21] The music video is thematically similar to the music video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" in that the video is in black and white, and that Knowles dons her alter ego Sasha Fierce's metal glove and performs choreography with two back-up dancers with more formal leotards. Knowles wears a Gareth Pugh design in the music video [22] as well as a couple of vintage Thierry Mugler Haute Couture pieces like a leather bodice and a reptilia inspired gown.

The video begins with a dictionary description of the word "diva", before cutting to a parking lot outside of a warehouse. Knowles, wearing a pair of "dangle shades", walks past a car full of mannequin parts into the warehouse. From here, she is accompanied by her two dancers and a variety of high fashion outfits. In one scene, Knowles is seen dancing robotically in front of a set of gold-tinted mannequins; while in another, she dances against a wall with two large chains hanging from the ceiling. At the end of the song, Knowles walks back out to the parking lot. She lights up a cigar and throws the lighter into the car, letting it explode. As she walks away, the intro to "Video Phone" (also from I Am... Sasha Fierce) plays. The explosion retains its original fiery colors in contrast with the black and white.

The commercial version of the video ranked at #13 on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown.[23]

Director's Cut

The director's cut is decidedly different from the commercial version. The opening definition of "diva" has been changed to feature the pronunciation of the word as "bē-yän-sá"; and the accompanying definitions are taken directly from the song's lyrics: "a female version of a hustla", "a woman who is gettin' money", and lastly, "a lady who does NOT allow any other passengers on her plane". Many of the shots with the dancers are exchanged for others featuring Knowles in several extravagant and outlandish haute couture garments, while other shots are taken from different camera angles. This version of the video has the gold tint from the mannequins removed and does not feature "Video Phone" as the car explodes.

Track listing

Charts and sales

End-of-year charts

Chart (2009) Position
Australian Urban Singles Chart[30] 50
Billboard Hot 100[31] 82
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs[32] 22
Billboard Radio Songs[33] 75
Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Songs[34] 24

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
March 28, 2009 - April 4, 2009 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ "Video: MySpaceTV Interviews Beyoncé". Rap-Up.com. 2008-11-12. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  2. ^ a b "Diva digital sheet music (Digital Download)". MusicNotes.com. Hal Leonard Corporation.
  3. ^ Reviewed by Leah Greenblatt (2008-11-05). "I Am...Sasha Fierce | Music". EW.com. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  4. ^ Kellman, Andy (2008-11-18). "( I Am... Sasha Fierce [Deluxe Edition] > Overview )". allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  5. ^ Petridis, Alexis (2008-11-14). "CD: Beyoncé, I Am ... Sasha Fierce | Music". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  6. ^ "US Singles Top 100 (January 3, 2009) - Music Charts". Acharts.us. 2009-01-03. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  7. ^ a b Up for Discussion Jump to Forums. "Diva - Beyoncé". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  8. ^ Caulfield, Keith (2009-03-18). "Kelly Clarkson Conquers Billboard 200 With Second No. 1 Album". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  9. ^ "Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles Charts". Billboard.com. 2009-02-14. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  10. ^ "Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles Charts". Billboard.com. 2009-02-21. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  11. ^ "Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles Charts". Billboard.com. 2009-02-28. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  12. ^ "Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles Charts". Billboard.com. 2009-03-07. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  13. ^ "Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles Charts". Billboard.com. 2009-03-14. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  14. ^ a b "The ARIA Report" (PDF). Pandora Archive. 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  15. ^ Steffen Hung. "Australian charts portal". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  16. ^ Steffen Hung (2009-03-30). "New Zealand charts portal". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  17. ^ Steffen Hung. "New Zealand charts portal". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  18. ^ Steffen Hung (2009-04-27). "New Zealand charts portal". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  19. ^ "UK Singles Top 75 - Music Charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  20. ^ "UK Singles Top 75 (May 24, 2009) - Music Charts". Acharts.us. 2009-05-24. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  21. ^ 'Diva' music video on iTunes
  22. ^ Tracey Lomrantz (2008-12-30). "Beyoncé rocks Gareth Pugh in her new music video". Glamour.com. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  23. ^ Black Entertainment Television's. "Notarized: Top 100 Videos 2009". Retrieved 2010-01-09.
  24. ^ Diva The Remixes (Digital Remix EP)
  25. ^ Capital Vinyl : - Vinyl House, Dance, Old Skool, Pop, Urban, Soul, Funk and Disco Vinyl Records
  26. ^ a b c d "Beyoncé – Diva – Music Charts". αCharts.us. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  27. ^ "Radio 1 - BBC Radio 1's Chart Show with Reggie Yates - UK Top 40 RnB Singles". BBC. 2007-02-24. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  28. ^ a b c d "I Am...Sasha Fierce > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  29. ^ "Gold & Platinum - November 30, 2009". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  30. ^ http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20100205-0000/EOY2009.pdf
  31. ^ "Top 100 Music Hits, Top 100 Music Charts, Top 100 Songs & The Hot 100". Billboard.com. 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  32. ^ "Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles Charts". Billboard.com. 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  33. ^ "Radio Songs". Billboard.com. 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  34. ^ "Club Music, Hot Dance Songs, Club Songs, Dance Club Music Charts". Billboard.com. 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
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